FIS World Championships

Following a 20-hour travel day on the overnight train, I arrived in Kreischberg with fellow slope skiers Matt Walker, Robby Franco, and Harry Pettit.

Overnight train

After finally getting registered for the event, and checked into our hotel, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves by doing absolutely nothing. So exhausted from the previous day, and just happy to be surrounded by familiar faces at the hotel.

View of the course from our Hotel

Just as SFR, I was staying with Walker, and Robby. Not realizing how tired we were, all of us slept through our alarms on the first day of practice. Lucky for us, when we finally woke up, we didn’t miss too much thanks to the heavy rainfall we received that morning. Although it was raining, we were still able to get some solid practice in. Once practice was over, I had a fun time doing some hand drag’s.

Photo by: Jeremy Pancras

The next day, we had practice in the evening. While this course was very fun, it unfortunately got shaded very quickly. Our practice started around 1 and by then was already half in the shade. So unbelievably stoked the Sports Creel sent me a pair of skis before I went to Europe. Thanks to them I new skis with sharp edges for this contest. I tried to ski on my old pair, and had little to no control at all.

Shaded very quickly in the afternoons

Later that night, I was able to watch the NFC Championship game in the lobby of our hotel. So happy I stayed awake to watch it, while i'm sure anyone looking in would of been wondering why there was someone jumping, fist pumping, and screaming for joy at the top of their lungs. In other words, I'm really looking forward to Super Bowl Sunday!

After two days of practice, we got to enjoy a nice down day, while the snowboarders competed instead. The following day it was our turn, with my heat being towards the end of the day, I was able to take the day nice and slow. Once practice started, it was go time. Did a couple warm up runs, before trying my tricks. First person to drop in my heat was Robby, and he raised the bar by landing a solid run, which would keep him in 1st place for our heat. Thankfully, I was able to put down a run as well, and finished in 2nd place.

Right Dub 12 on the Qualifier day. Photo by: Broby Leeds

Finals was our next day, and after watching fellow Americans Ryan Stassel and Kyle Mack come 1st and 3rd in snowboard slope, I knew it was time to have some fun for skiers. After a good practice, I was beyond hyped to put down one run. Minus a little bobble on my 2nd jump, It was one of the cleanest runs I’ve been able to land. When the scores came in, I was happy to be in the 80’s with my score.

When it was all said and done, Fabian Boesch came in 1st, with Russ Henshaw placing 2nd, and thankfully I rounded up the podium in 3rd. Easily my biggest podium so far. Had so much fun those two days of competing on such a good course.

The following day, it was time for Robby and I to head out, so we went to be tourists for the rest of our time in Europe. Our first stop was in Prague, were awesome skier buddy Marek Skala, let us crash for a couple nights, and showed us all around his beautiful city.

On the Charles Bridge, with the Castle in the background

After two nights in Prague, we took the train up to our last destination of Munich. We met up with our friend Andi Liebig, who let us stay the night, and show us around a bit.

Walking around the BMW headquarters showroom

The following day I flew back to the US for some much needed time back in Keystone, before heading to SIA, and the Grand Prix on Sunday.

Special thank you to everyone who made this trip so amazing. Carol Stevenson, for being like a team Mom in Kreischberg, along with giving everyone such good advice for travel. Marek and Barbora for being so hospitable and amazing to Robby and I. Andi and Veronica, for being the great people that they are. Thanks everyone so much!